A Word In Season

The Power of God
By Ann Doupont

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

This verse is well-known in some Christian circles, but what does it mean? Most people want a sound mind, but don’t know how to get one. The Greek word for “sound” means “disciplined.” In finding this, I came to understand that in order to have a sound mind, it meant that I would have to discipline my thoughts.

In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, I found part of the way that this is to be done. It says that the weapons of our warfare (there is a war going on for the souls of mankind) are not carnal (the kind of weapons people use in a natural war). They are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Those strongholds are what the enemy of our souls planted in our minds that needs to be pulled down, through prayer.

Then we read “casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” When I first saw this, I thought it seemed impossible to do. However, I knew that God would never say to do anything impossible. It’s just that I didn’t know how to do it, so I asked Him how. He said, “one thought at a time.” Oh, okay. I can do that. My venture of developing a sound mind then began.

In the English language, we see more than one word translated from Greek to the word “power.” The basic two words we see are “exousia” (meaning authority) and “dunamis” (meaning miraculous power or strength). In the verse in 2 Timothy referenced above, the word translated “power” is the word “dunamis.”

In understanding the Bible so that we are then able to apply it to our lives, it is sometimes necessary to look at the original language. Some verses are pretty clear and easier to understand than others. However, there are those that seem more complicated and therefore require a more in-depth study. The word “power” seems to be one of those words.

This word is found in the New Testament 152 times in 142 verses. More than half of these are from the word “dunamis.” Yet, there are just enough times (58 of them) that are from the word “exousia” that call for a study of this word, in order to more fully understand what is meant. There are also a few other times when the word “power” has been derived from some other Greek words.

A verse using the word “power” which I have found interesting is Luke 10:19. It says that we have been given power over all the power of the devil. We have been given “authority” over all the “dunamis” of the enemy.

I love God’s Word and hope that all those reading this column also love His Word. He will give us what we request from Him. If we ask for “power,” we may either get “exousia” or “dunamis.” I want both of these and so have requested both from the Father.

Ann Doupont
www.anndoupont.org